Orange 50th

Re: Orange 50th

I think we're looking for this:

matamp2-13.jpg
 
Re: Orange 50th

I’d love Orange, Green, White, Black... all badass in the doom, sludge, stoner realm!


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Re: Orange 50th

The bass, treble and volume controls are pretty obvious. (the first small knob, the second small knob and last big knob from left to right, respectively).
The "resistor" and "punch" are not at all obvious. The Matamp pictured above suggests that they might be "drive" and "presence".
In the context of this era that's not a lot more explanatory than the symbols. I don't think "drive" on this amp was doing the same thing that one thinks of in a typical Master Volume / Drive setup, but I could be wrong.
Anyone know?

Maybe re-introduce the 24x12 cab?
Go against the "shoe-box" amp trend.

orange 24x12.JPG
 
Re: Orange 50th

orange-graphic.JPG
Here's a little clearer picture. The site I found it on also has some description, which I'm not smart enough to understand, but probably answers my question above - what do the knobs do?

Here's the text:
"Circa 1972 Orange amps are referred to as ""Pics Only"" as they feature only the hieroglyphs and no text on the controls. These amps had the Baxandall EQ first in the circuitry, then Gain, then the phase inverter. Adds Adrian Emsley, ""What's more, the DC-coupled 'concertina' phase inverter used in the first Orange amps was changed to a capacitor-coupled version in the 'Pics Only' models."" This capacitor-coupled type of phase inverter drives the output valves harder, and this creates a more overdriven and crunchy sound. In this way, the Pics Only was the start of the new sound that everybody associates with Orange."

These were the amps that excited me in 1976 when I moved to Boston at age 17 and started going out to clubs.
From memory I believe these were available in 80 and 120 watt versions. Anyone know more?
I stayed in Boston until 1981, by then they were available on the used market, but still out of my price range.

I believe these are more commonly referred to as the "Graphics" models than "Pics Only" these days, perhaps even by Orange themselves.

The "mountains" graphic over the two input jacks on the right are the send and receive for the outboard echo unit, which Orange also made.
 
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Re: Orange 50th

From left to right:
FAC knob: Adds more gain and lowend the further to the left you turn it.
Baxandall Bass knob
Baxandall Treble knob
HF Drive: basically Presence
Gain: Volume.

Overdrive models had a master volume after the gain knob
 
Re: Orange 50th

I remember an interview with Tony Iommi saying that he hated Orange amps. I haven't tried the newer ones, although I have tried vintage ones. I didn't like them, either.
 
Re: Orange 50th

I think Orange is kind of a like it or hate it amp. Their sound is really different, and it can be good or bad. I almost think of them as the black sheep of the British amp family. When people think hard rock and 80's, they think Marshall. But Orange is the name in those underground, less heard off sludge, grunge, stoner, and doom metal bands. Some famous names have played orange though... *cough* *cough* Jimmy Page
 
Re: Orange 50th

"Circa 1972 Orange amps are referred to as ""Pics Only"" as they feature only the hieroglyphs and no text on the controls. These amps had the Baxandall EQ first in the circuitry, then Gain, then the phase inverter. Adds Adrian Emsley, ""What's more, the DC-coupled 'concertina' phase inverter used in the first Orange amps was changed to a capacitor-coupled version in the 'Pics Only' models."" This capacitor-coupled type of phase inverter drives the output valves harder, and this creates a more overdriven and crunchy sound. In this way, the Pics Only was the start of the new sound that everybody associates with Orange."
Click to expand...

Vintage Oranges have little in common with their modern designs on the technical level. There were only 1 1/2 preamp tubes. The phase inverter was one of the 12AX7 triodes of the 2nd preamp tube, one side off the plate and the other side off the cathode. When the Orange music store wanted to get a proprietary amp they had Matamps design it. But the original Matamp Orange design was too clean; it would not distort much at all. So the original preamp design was altered to provide more distortion, hence the unique tone of those amps.

I believe that back in the day Jimmy Page mostly used the Orange to amplify the Theremin (sp?), while the Marshalls were for the guitar. I think it would be cool for them to do vintage reissue type of an OR.
 
Re: Orange 50th

Mincer said:
I remember an interview with Tony Iommi saying that he hated Orange amps. I haven't tried the newer ones, although I have tried vintage ones. I didn't like them, either.
Click to expand...

Paranoid music video has Oranges on the background. I wonder why if he hated them.

Or is it a bass amp?
 
Re: Orange 50th

Right, and that video probably revived the brand. :)

However, it was the show itself that had a deal with Orange, not the band (and certainly not the guitarist). So every artist on the show had to use them, and every band complained about them. Tony used Laneys on stage at that time (and now).
 
Re: Orange 50th

I've always wondered what is "the Orange sound". A friend has a Rockerverb which is a great amp, but I don't think it is blatantly unique either. JMO.

I'm not trying to downtalk on Orange amps, I'm just genuinely curious. I have only tried the more contemporary Tiny Terror, Dark Terror, and Rockerverb, but they all have sounded pretty tight and, dare I say, modern. What is it that makes the vintage Orange amps unique? Why is it that people class them as good Stoner/Doom/Sludge platforms as opposed to just all-around rock amps?
 
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Re: Orange 50th

The "Orange sound" is really debatable. I personally find oranges are darker and more of an "overcast" gain than a marshall. Marshalls have a lot of high and middle frequencies. Oranges give a more balanced and slightly bassier tone which some people enjoy, and some don't. I enjoy it very much. Their clean tones are not super sparkly like a fender, but they are very balecnced well rounded.
 
Re: Orange 50th

PierceOkken said:
The "Orange sound" is really debatable. I personally find oranges are darker and more of an "overcast" gain than a marshall. Marshalls have a lot of high and middle frequencies. Oranges give a more balanced and slightly bassier tone which some people enjoy, and some don't. I enjoy it very much. Their clean tones are not super sparkly like a fender, but they are very balecnced well rounded.
Click to expand...



Absolutely as the British would say spot on.
 
Re: Orange 50th

PierceOkken said:
The "Orange sound" is really debatable. I personally find oranges are darker and more of an "overcast" gain than a marshall. Marshalls have a lot of high and middle frequencies. Oranges give a more balanced and slightly bassier tone which some people enjoy, and some don't. I enjoy it very much. Their clean tones are not super sparkly like a fender, but they are very balecnced well rounded.
Click to expand...

They have this awesome low end grunt without the prominent mids Marshall is known for. And way less smooth than "american" amps. I really like that.
 
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